The Warriors are the latest team to sign up for the Kristaps Porzingis experience, which has been tantalizing and frustrating during most of his NBA stops, writes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Porzingis can be a difference maker on the court with his combination of size and talent, but his susceptibility to injuries creates uncertainty over how often he’ll be available.
He left Friday’s game at Detroit with back soreness and is unavailable for tonight’s contest in Atlanta. The Hawks traded him to Golden State last month after going through a mostly disappointing stretch with Porzingis, who was acquired from Boston last summer but was only healthy for 17 games before being shipped out.
The latest injury forced Porzingis to leave Friday’s game in the second quarter after taking a couple of hits from Pistons big man Paul Reed.
“I kind of started feeling it from the first quarter,” Porzingis told ESPN’s Anthony Slater (Twitter video link). “It started to spasm up a bit. I tried to move and … while I was warm, but at one point I kind of felt a little spasm.”
This is the fourth time in Porzingis’ career that he has been sidelined with back issues, according to Poole, who adds that team officials declined to speculate about how long he might be out. He has appeared in just seven of 18 games since the February 5 trade.
There’s more on the Warriors:
- A scrimmage on Sunday morning in Atlanta will be the next step in Stephen Curry‘s comeback attempt, coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Saturday (Twitter video link from Slater). “I think tomorrow’s probably the big day, and we’ll know more at that point,” Kerr added. Curry, who has been sidelined since January 30 with runner’s knee, will be reevaluated on Tuesday when the team returns home from its road trip.
- Golden State had six players out and five others listed as questionable on its injury report for tonight’s game, per Kevin Chouinard of Hawks.com (Twitter link). Among those considered questionable, Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton and Malevy Leons have been cleared to play, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic (Twitter link).
- In a pregame session with the media, Hawks coach Quin Snyder shared his advice for Jonathan Kuminga as he prepares for his first meeting with the Warriors since being sent to Atlanta in the Porzingis deal, relays Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area. “Players get traded in this league. You can’t make it about you, and I don’t think he is,” Snyder said. “I think more than anything, he’s looking forward to being on the court, regardless of who the opponent is. The plan is for him to keep doing what he’s doing, no matter who we’re playing. He’s done that. Whether that means six shots or 13, or however many. It’s really not been about his offense. He’s given us a lift defensively and I think his energy has been really good. He’s been a boost for our team when he’s been able to play. And hopefully that’s what we’ll see tonight.”
I’m just here for more Daveyisms.
If we can all agree that when it comes to VORP, roughly these are correct over 82 games:
3+ is star, frontline, late and close player
2+ is very good rotation piece
1+ is solid rotation piece
0.5-0.9 is role player
0.- 0.4 is mid
-1 is bad
Here is Kristaps VORP over 82 games before this season:
21-22: 3.5
22-23: 4.2
23-24: 4.3
24-25: 4.1
I honestly don’t know what to make of his season this year, its been too odd, even for him. He did look really loose and very good vs a tanking Wizards, but even that alone proves he -can- be that guy, still. He exists, he existed on an NBA court this season. I’m guessing he just wants to put this season behind him and show out next year. If GSW bow out of the Giannis mix, I have no problem keeping him around. I cannot wait to see KP and Steph together with Moody, Gui and Horford in t-minus 5ish games.
Wishful thinking. And I’m all for it. KP hurting his back is not the end of the world for me. The travel, the recent play plus mins. And he strains his back ? Kerr overplayed him period. Not the end of the world. Bringing him back on a very team friendly contract would be best case. But I’d expect 40/50 games out of him if he does come back. That, would be best case as well.
I just don’t get how you cannot wait to see that lineup if it’s being coached by Kerr?? Won’t they be completely unsuccessful and probably fail to score at all?? Or will Kerr be saved by Steph and the two center lineup?????????
let’s do the time VORP again…..
How do you tell someone who’s never played basketball in their life? Start a conversation with VORP and use it as to why your team whose time is up will win the chip next season.
Only one person on this planet who thinks Kristaps isn’t done. And, it isn’t Kristaps himself. Classic, SMH.
JK is banged up not playing. 0/4 FG .
Hawks beating Warriors. Need to sit him down.
Man didn’t look like it in the game, kinda just looked like how he usually did with the Warriors…
We all have bad days. Trying too hard when your not 100%. Sometimes works against you.
22 mins, 1/9 FG, 4 reb, 2 ast. Too bad, Hawks did win.
Ehh winning against a gleague led team isn’t that impressive. Either way, he did not look good, really looked like the Kuminga I’ve watched for several years. Hope he continues to get better for his sake!
Making excuses. He looked terrible. Poor shot selection, poor ball handing. Al you know nothing it’s just continuing to show over and over again. My word
NBA Draft Scouting Report: Michigan Forward Yaxel Lendeborg
link to si.com
link to nbadraft.net
link to theswishtheory.com
link to sports.yahoo.com
link to espn.com
link to tankathon.com
OK, all we’re concerned about right now Is the Clippers, Portland and Chicago, Milwaukee.
They need to keep winning and the Warriors need to keep playing Spencer, Santos, Cryer, Yurtseven and Leons.
Plus the sooner Moody gets back the better. There’s been too many close games and we need him to start at shooting guard again.
But, so far so good.
Bucks beat the Suns last night !! love it, let’s go !!!
I understand, but looking at their and Chicago’s schedule, they might win 4 max, so for your dreams to come true, GS needs to lose all their remaining games. Can they lose twice to Kings?
Yes, it’s wishful thinking, but what else to do?
It’s fun watching March madness with the NBA draft in mind also.
For the first time in a few years, my memory of following the NBA draft in a detailed way is brought back to life.
I’m just hoping it all works out and the Warriors roster for next season will look quite a bit different than it does today.
– 8 – Clippers — 35–36
– 9 – Blazers — 35–36
– 10 – Warriors — 33–38
There are 11 games left in season.
– Clippers have — Bucks, Raptors, Pacers, Bucks, Blazers, Spurs, Kings, Mavs, Thunder, Blazers, Warriors.
– Blazers have — Nuggets, Nets, Bucks, Mavs, Wiz, Clippers, Pels, Nuggets, Spurs, Clippers, Kings.
– Warriors have — Mavs, Nets, Wiz, Nuggets, Spurs, Cavs, Rockets, Kings, Lakers, Kings, Clippers.
Looking at that, they’re a lock for the #11 pick spot going into the play-in.
If they lose the play-in, there’s a fair chance Lendeborg is still on the board, although as someone else noted a good tournament run will up his stock. But there are a few PFs in that range on the big board if that’s what they want (including another 23yo in Haugh).
But just for kicks, if they win the lottery, do they take Boozer to push Dray out of the starting lineup? Or Dybansta because they don’t expect Jimmy to get back to elite? Or Peterson to back up Steph and eventually take over? Seems like there are mixed arguments for BPA so what do they want?
Lol I doubt they take AJ cause he is still raw. It would be Kuminga 2.0. Peterson and Boozer are more NBA ready imo. AJ could be better in long run. They probably take Boozer.
Yeah I agree Lendenborg is starting to move up. I still think being 23 yrs old works against him. He is looking like a top 10-12. Bulls or Bucks could take him. Both need players that can help right away. I think Bulls go for a scoring guard. Its tough to call, there is a chance for Warriors I think. Especially at 11-12.
link to cbssports.com